Michener spoke to the local population about his new book. In the early 1600s, young edmund steed is desperate to escape religious persecution in england. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. Michener, as he is popularly known as, is a well known novelist, philanthropist and story writer from pennsylvania, united states. Chesapeake is as much about a way of life, as it is about the place and its people. It was published by fawcett and has a total of 1024 pages in the book. Micheners enthralling new novel tells a magnificent historical saga of our land and its people, focusing on the generations of seven brawling, burgeoning familiestheir failures and triumphs, their uniquely american spirit and driveliving on marylands chesapeake bay. The first edition of the novel was published in 1978, and was written by james a. The hundred or so characters are firmly presented as types e. First trade with the random house designation for first printing. Marks united methodist church hall in easton on may 17, 1978.
Ive owned this book in hardcover for many, many years and wanted the kindle edition to avoid wearing out the hardcover one. Nor does all of micheners digested research produce painless fact feasts. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were lengthy, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Best known for his novels, he wrote epic and detailed works classified as fictional documentaries. In chesapeake, he forms a novel around that area in maryland that borders the choptank river, a tributary of chesapeake bay. James michener was born on february 1907 in new york city. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month club, and was known for his meticulous research behind the books. Following edmund steed and his remarkable family, who parallel the settling and forming of the nation, chesapeake sweeps readers from the unspoiled.
He is known for his work on adventures in paradise 1959, return to paradise 1953 and south pacific 1958. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. This particular edition is in a mass market paperback format. The town of patamoke lies on a fictitious promontory on the choptank. Michener 1986, cassette, abridged new free shipping. I love the way michener mixes historical fact with his fictional characters to tell his story. Chesapeake by james a michener book cover, description, publication history. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas. In this exceptional memoir, the man himself tells the story of his remarkable life and describes the people, events, and ideas that shaped it. Tom clancy on america, government, history, writing, and the private sector 1990 speech duration. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on. The history of the eastern shore of maryland from 1583 to 1978 demonstrates.
Us stamp april musical south pacific, based on book by james michener, opened at majestic theater new york city for performances. I almost wish i had not waded into this column, a revisit to chesapeake, the 1978 novel of 859 pages by james a. Sprawling across centuries and subjects, it traces the histories of several fictional families residing in the chesapeake bay in maryland and virginia, between 1583 and 1978. Michener brings history to life with this 400year saga of americas great bay and its eastern shore. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home. Michener begins with the natives just prior to settlement by colonial english. He authored more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the. To this point come the founders of families that will dominate the story. The book is typical michener, and uses individual stories across generations to. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of chesapeake by james michener.
For those that love sweeping epic novels, this is a book for you. I bought this book so i could reread it and relive the excitement found there, as in all of james micheners epics. He was married to mari michener, vange nord and patti koon. Without the frame or the focus that loosely held centennial together, this massive but arbitrarily fragmented eastcoast community historya maryland island, 15831978is almost devoid of traditional novelistic pleasure. The central scene of micheners historical novel is that section of marylands eastern shore, hardly more than 10 miles square. The story deals with several families living in the chesapeake bay area around virginia and maryland, from 1583 to 1978. Chesapeake is a 1978 novel by american author james a. Michener 19071997 was one of the worlds most popular writers. He is wellknown for the amount of research that went into his work in addition to the length of his novels 900 pages was a short novel for him. Through native and later colonial eyes, the reader gets a good feel for the bounty available in this area. Micheners most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on the fourhundredyear saga of americas eastern shore. It seems that micheners writing style either fascinates or tries the patience of his readers.
The wall street journal a marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages. Michener 19071997 was an american author of historical fiction and nonfiction. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the international broadcast board, which oversees the voice of america. Praise for chesapeake another of james micheners great mines of narrative, character and lore. Michener, american novelist, born february 3, 1907. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1024 pages and is available in paperback format. Ive read chesapeake at least a dozen times and i never grow tired of it. Michener was born on february 3, 1907 in new york city, new york, usa as james albert michener. The book is bound in green cloth over boards with gold lettering on the spine. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prize winning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home.
Buy chesapeake by james a michener online at alibris. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on the fourhundredyear saga of americas eastern shore, from its native american roots to the modern age. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are. The title of this book is chesapeake and it was written by james a. He was abandoned by his birth parents but soon adopted by a quaker widow named mabel michener. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. Chesapeake by james michener, first edition abebooks. James was born on february 3, 1907 in new york, united states. Micheners books include tales of the south pacific for which he won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1948, hawaii, the drifter. Micheners the watermen is a unique tribute to the adventurous seafarers of the chesapeake bay. Showcasing the evocative artwork created by john moll for this special edition, james a.
Following edmund steed and his remarkable family, who parallel the settling and forming of the nation, chesapeake sweeps readers from the unspoiled world of the native americans to the voyages of captain john smith, the revolutionary war, and right up to modern times. Excerpted from the pulitzer prizewinning authors classic chesapeake, this enthralling novel has a unity and a spirit all its own, telling the story of the bay and its wildlife, but especially of the. In chesapeake by james a michener, the story begins with voyage 1 in 1583. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. This one is about my home so it is particularly wonderful.
1400 564 1371 1197 895 240 1522 1356 284 854 472 1536 312 1335 1350 707 1178 1049 546 138 792 437 299 1234 1049 1354 915 581 658 378 1446 541